Keller NW Europe managing director Jim De Waele on recent advances in the use of Business Information Modelling in geotechnical engineering

1. Paper BIM No.1 1
Recent Advances in BIM in Geotechnics
Jim De Waele
Managing Director
Keller Limited
Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry
United Kingdom
ABSTRACT
The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is becoming more widespread throughout the various sectors, and professions of the
UK construction industry, however, in its “National BIM Report 2016”, the National Building Specification (NBS) concluded that BIM
was still a) “Far from embracing all parts of the supply chain” and b) “Not reaching the O&M phase of the building”.
Of course a positive step was taken when in April 2016 central Government departments required collaborative 3D Level 2 BIM.
However we still need more clients and the operators of constructed assets to follow the initiative, if we are going to improve upon the
NBS’s findings.
This paper examines two recent advances in BIM in the field of geotechnics. The first case study relates to the sharing of site generated
data, that is gathered electronically on site, processed and then uploaded to the BIM model, all automatically. In this way the stakeholders
are seeing the object attributes updated in the integrated model in real time as the work is done. The advantages of this process include
the obvious savings in time and effort, avoiding mistakes, self-certification and the manifest openness that supports collaboration.
The second case study relates to how monitoring data can be accessed from the BIM model. Whilst strictly not an “object” in BIM
terminology, this information is important to the construction team during the building of the asset and surely to the operator and
maintainer too. The monitoring database provides a way of all parties being able to interrogate the same data both in real time and
historically. This information truly spans the gap between design, construction and the O&M phase, and has the potential to break down
some of the traditional gaps.
Both advances support the wider uptake of BIM and its continuing development. More importantly, both give further impetus to the
changing landscape of construction procurement.
If we are to continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the construction industry we must learn to collaborate and digitalise.
The author believes that BIM has the power to deliver this, almost by default, encouraging and cajoling the parties to act in this way.
INTRODUCTION
There are many of us involved in the construction industry that
want it to change and modernise. Much has been said and
written on the necessity to collaborate and use digital tools far
more [PAS1192 series]; but the reality is that progress is
painfully slow and largely because of poor returns, commitment
towards research and development is scant. However, some are
seeing that by adopting BIM those professionals working in the
sector might be pushed or incentivised into a better way of
working. The implementation of BIM requires a change in
traditional processes and relationships. The very fragmented
nature of our industry makes this collaborative method of
working a challenge, but one that the author hopes BIM will
make inevitable. Viewed in this way the adoption of BIM
should be seen as an enabler. Used properly, contractually
[CIC: 2013] and collaboratively it is a tool that should:
 Enable better information flows through improved
technology.
 Enable better decision making during design and
construction.
 Enable the full construction team to participate effectively
in the process and;
 Enable the end user to better understand and manage their
asset.

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BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO KELLER
Keller is the world’s largest geotechnical specialist. It has
operations in over 40 countries and employs 10,000 people. It’s
UK operation makes up one of the leading companies in the
market and offers a full range of foundation and ground
improvement solutions. Most of the work that Keller does is
design and build and normally through a subcontract with the
Principal Contractor (as a tier two supplier to the ultimate
client). Keller works in all sectors of the construction industry
from housing, commercial, infrastructure and utilities. Because
of the nature of what it does, the company often has
involvement with architects, design consultants, cost
consultants, housebuilders, clients and contractors. In many
ways its position as a design-build tier two has required the
business to collaborate across the industry for many years. This
means that Keller, and companies like it, have a unique
perspective when it comes to the adoption of BIM.
1.0 DATA DROP PROJECT
The subsurface realm is complex and heterogeneous. The
performance of soils is self-evidently highly variable and
difficult to predict with precision and natural and man-made
obstacles add to the ground-related risks.
Currently, relevant geotechnical information is limited, if it is
included at all, in commonly used BIM models, and ground
conditions, the foundation system applied, and the execution of
geotechnical works have minimal or no impact on the entire
planning, construction and investment process. This is a clear
contrast to the lessons learned since ground problems are one
of the major causes of project delay, and when they occur they
are normally difficult to handle and expensive to rectify.
Therefore geo-related data, such as geological, hydrogeological
and geotechnical objects and properties, should be considered
as a vital and integral part of extended and future-looking BIM
models.
From the geotechnical engineer’s perspective, an un-federated
BIM model (let’s call it a GeoBIM model) would improve the
understanding of how any geotechnical solutions “fits” the
ground. Not just through a 3D representation of what is being
installed, but how the foundation relates to the geographical
strata that is either known about or postulated. Resistances, or
pressures, or torques that have been used during the installation
of the foundation are also important parameters to have
captured in the objects within a GeoBIM model to aid
understanding of the underlying conditions and to validate the
design assumptions that have had to be made.
With all of that in mind Keller decided in March 2016 to move
towards an environment where first it could use a GeoBIM
model for its own purposes to validate and check its own work,
but hopefully also move towards a way of linking or federating
this with the overall Project BIM Model.
It is already possible to plot ground information such as
boreholes into a GeoBIM model, particularly if the “AGS”
electronic data format is used [ICE:2016]. However, obtaining
and then manually entering the as-built data, is a time
consuming and frankly boring process. Engineers become
overly involved in the administration and cease doing what they
have trained and are paid to do; engineer.
So Keller decided that both to improve its internal processes
and to encourage the uptake of BIM, that this dataflow needed
to be automated, meaning that site construction data would flow
into the BIM model directly. In the future this will be common
place, but presently a lot of manual site records are distilled and
entered into the model by manual keying in.
1.1 PROCESS
Many of the rigs and items of equipment used in the
geotechnical sector already have on-board computers
controlling the process and recording installation data [ICE
2016]. The data drop project essentially takes this source data,
collected during construction, and pushes it into the Autodesk
Revit Project BIM Model for all the other project stakeholders
to view.
Fig 1.1. Typical on-board rig computer
The philosophy has been to meet the requirements of BIM
Level 2 using Keller’s existing systems as far as possible. K2
software fulfils this requirement perfectly as it is tailored to link
databanks that would otherwise operate independently.
The process requires the use of an application to application
interface program (API) to take the data from the site computer,
into a sharepoint environment and then beyond into Revit [See
Fig 1.2].
The process executes on a schedule and moves data from the
site (via mobile links) into the Keller repository first, then into
the BIM model. Selected data and specifically object attributes
are moved into the model, but all the source information is
permanently maintained (and archived) in the Keller server.
The Keller database provides a secure electronic data input into
the system drawing from several different types of

3. Paper BIM No.1 3
instrumentation and sources. This repository hosts the master
input data. This is a rich data environment and so can be
portioned as necessary, by client or by project for example.
A simple search within the SharePoint site allows the user to
interrogate the rig instrumentation database retrieving
construction information for a specific project, product, rig and
shift. This is cross-checked against the design intent and any
discrepancies between the as built record and design intent are
flagged within the system requiring an engineer to check it.
Fig 1.2. API Logic
The next step is that selected data is sourced from the repository
and published to the BIM model. The data that is chosen could
be selected by the client or other stakeholders. The application
provides data transformation and translation services to ensure
that it is mapped correctly to the objects and the attributes are
then assigned into the Revit model.
The overall system processes are orchestrated using K2
removing human intervention and bureaucracy. This also
allows automatic scheduling, provides notification to the users
and allows system-human task creation. An example of a BIM
model automatically populated with site data is included in
figure 1.3.
Fig 1.3. The Populated Revit Model
In addition to populating the model, using the construction data,
the application automatically populates the daily report sheet
issued to the client on the site itself. This additional step
removes any manual input from the site team whilst improving
the accuracy of this task.
2.0 BIM AS A GATEWAY TO MONITORING DATA
The second advance is in the use of monitoring data.
Monitoring and the instrumentation of either existing
infrastructure that might be affected by construction, or the
monitoring of the new works, or the collection of data relating
to the environment is now common place and increasing in
popularity.
The traditional linear approach of procurement is being
challenged by BIM and situations are being created where all
parties have to share from a common information pool. But
breaking through the barriers of the parties protecting their own
interests, or not freeing up the data into the model, remains a
challenge and this is where Keller has made some important
headway.
It is not unheard of that in some traditional arrangements,
monitoring is carried out (procured) separately by the client, by
the Principal Contractor and possibly some of the sub-
contractors too. Data is not typically shared freely and when it
is it can be conflicting, unsurprisingly.
In a collaborative way of working this monitoring service
would only be procured once, for the project; for everyone, but
access to the information has to be open and transparent with
all parties having the same unfettered access. The BIM model
provides a perfect way of achieving this.
However, monitoring data can be difficult to handle. First it
often needs processing, and there are various ways that the data
can be presented, graphical representation is an obvious way,
but more innovative techniques such as heat mapping can be
more easily read. Secondly the amount of data is problematic.
Monitoring could on some jobs last decades and if, as is the case
with some instruments, data is being read and logged every
minute, then the database soon swells. If this were all to be
stored directly within the BIM model then it would be quickly
become unwieldy.
So the solution that Getec (a Keller subsidiary) has arrived at is
to write a plug in to the Revit standard menu that allows the user
to access the I&M database through interaction with the model.
Fig 2.1 I&M through Revit

4. Paper BIM No.1 4
The user can navigate through the model in the usual way.
Sensors and instruments are drawn into the model like any other
piece of hardware and each of them is an object in the 3D model
with useful attributes that can be used throughout the
construction and the O&M phase.
When the user wants to see the monitoring information one or
more of the sensors is selected and access to the monitoring
database is activated. This allows the I&M information to be
presented with the full functionality of the I&M software
running behind the BIM model.
If access to this data is to be restricted, then this is easy to
arrange. The sensors and instruments would be visible in the
model, but the link to the I&M software would be only available
to those that are authorised.
One issue to address is who owns the data. Permissions can be
allocated, but one could argue that ultimately the client pays for
the data whether he sees or uses it or not. Surely, any client
would want the benefit of monitoring data pre, during and post
construction? This opens up the opportunity for the BIM model
to be truly used as envisaged, from concept, through design,
into construction and finally in the O&M phase. Perhaps the
offer of I&M data that can be used for many years after the
building is commissioned could move some clients to embrace
the benefits of BIM after construction.
In this scenario, the model could not only be used for the fabric
of the building or piece of infrastructure, but the monitoring
data could be extended to cover heating and lighting
performance, air conditioning systems, or for maintenance,
condition based monitoring tools. Whilst these are recognised
virtues of other asset management systems the potential for
overlap is obvious.
This approach of providing a “live” BIM model rather than just
a record of what has been built at handover, supports the
Governments Soft Landings philosophy [BSRIA:2009] and is
perhaps the holy grail for BIM in the future.
CONCLUSIONS
Most commentators concur that wide adoption of BIM in the
construction industry is inevitable. It is a question of when, not
if. In addition to the obvious digital progress, the author also
hopes that BIM will be the enabler or the catalyst for change
towards a more collaborative industry too.
The value of data is undervalued. The cost of collecting and
collating data is often expensive and time consuming. With the
data drop solution, real time and accurate data, direct from the
construction site, can now be sent directly to the BIM model
without any human processing.
Our industry is fragmented. The Department for Business,
Innovation & Skills in 2013 identified that on a typical medium
sized project (£20M) up to seventy sub-contractors can be
involved, but we can use BIM to present an opportunity to
assemble a supply chain that can get involved earlier in the asset
life cycle, and stay around for longer too. The use of BIM
requires tier two contractors working within the project team to
coordinate the way in which the information contained and
associated with the model is created and managed.
Keller’s commitment to BIM and in particular its focus on
transparent solutions is a good example of how the tier twos are
responding. Contrary to some findings, many subcontractors
are ready and are wanting to fully engage with BIM. But for
this to happen it needs the commitment from the clients and also
the tier one contractors.
Keller would like to think that with the I&M data so obviously
being relevant to all the stakeholders and the phases of a
construction project then this might present a further reason for
clients to think again about deploying BIM on their scheme.
Our industry is still in search of the cultural shift that will see
us working in collaboration. We should collectively take the
opportunity now to make BIM the catalyst to that change.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author acknowledges Keller Limited for its investment so
far in BIM and Arno Van Rooyen and Velocity IT, the business
that has written much of the code for the data-drop project.
REFERENCES
BSI (2007) BS1192 Part 1. Collaborative production of
architectural, engineering and construction information code
of practice, British Standards Institute, London.
BSI (2013) PAS1192-2 Specification for information
management for the capital/delivery phase of construction
projects using building information modelling, British
Standards Institute, London.
BSI (2014) PAS1192-3 Specification for information
management for the operational phase of assets using building
information modelling, British Standards Institute, London.

5. Paper BIM No.1 5
BSI (2014) BS1192 Part 4 Collaborative production of
information: fulfilling employer’s information exchange
requirements using COBie – code of practice, British Standards
Institute, London.
BSRIA BG4 (2009) The soft landings framework, Building
Services Research and Information Associations, Bracknell,
CIC (2013) BIM Protocol, Construction Industry Council,
London.
Institution of Civil Engineers [2016]. “ICE Specification for
piling and embedded retaining walls”. Thomas Telford,
London.
NBS [2016]. “National BIM Report 2016”. NBS is a trading
name of RIBA Enterprises Ltd, Newcastle.